New school named for Kaechele

By Tom Lappas, Citizen Editor

10/26/12

The Henrico School Board voted Oct. 25 to name the county's newest public school, opening next fall in Short Pump, David A. Kaechele Elementary School, in honor of the longtime Three Chopt District supervisor.

The school is being built on Pouncey Tract Road, and a redistricting committee of citizens is working to recommend attendance boundaries for it. The committee is expected to present two options to the School Board at its Nov. 8 meeting, and the board could adopt a set of boundaries by the end of the year.

School Board Chair Diana Winston, who represents the Three Chopt District (in which the school is located) recommended that the new school be named for Kaechele, and the board unanimously agreed.

Kaechele's name was one of more than 80 name suggestions made by the public for the school. Several other suggestions already adorn county schools (Mills E. Godwin, Glen Allen, John Rolfe, Pocahontas and Virginia Randolph).

Among other suggested names: County View, Freedom, Fox Path, Henland (a combination of Henrico and Goochland), Lone Tree, New Dawn, Old Farm, Quarry Hill and Rock Quarry (in deference to the school's location near a quarry) and Steel Coach.

The board had not named a new school after an individual since L. Douglas Wilder Middle School opened more than a decade ago, though Holman Middle School, which opened in 2010, bears the last name of the family that owned the land on which it is located.

In addition to Kaechele, a number of other prominent local and national figures were suggested as worthy school name candidates, including Henrico County Manager Virgil Hazelett, former county manager Edward Beck, former Henrico School Board members Robert Smart and Lloyd Jackson, longtime Henrico educator Warner Jones, Sr., former Henrico superintendent William Bosher, space pioneers Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride and William Satterwhite (whose family owned for more than 200 years the land on which the school will be located).

The 10th Annual Filipino Festival will be held Aug. 7-8 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 8200 Woodman Rd., beginning with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. Friday and continuing with live entertainment, food and exhibits until 10 p.m. On Saturday the festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a full schedule of performances featuring traditional Filipino dance, music and song.

Filipino cuisine, including BBQ, pansit, lumpia, adobo, halo-halo, lechon, empanada and leche flan, will be available for purchase. The festival will also feature a children's area, church tours, exhibits, and health screenings. > Read more.

The Children’s Museum of Richmond last week opened its new Short Pump location at Short Pump Town Center, to the delight of children who attended a sneak preview of the location July 10. The new facility, located under the forthcoming LL Bean store (formerly the food court) is 8,500 square feet in size – much larger than CMoR’s former Short Pump location at West Broad Village, which opened in 2010. The new space includes The CarMax Foundation Service Station, the Silver Diner, a grocery store, a performance stage and an art studio, as well as a giant Light Bright Wall. > Read more.

The Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Henrico Police are both presenting community events tomorrow, Aug. 1. The Feria Community Resource Fair at Richmond International Raceway brings together community service providers, embassies/consulates from Latin American countries, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and corporations that impact the Latino community. The Division of Police’s Community Day will feature demonstrations and displays from police, fire, animal protection and sheriff’s office, as well as family activities, food, entertainment and more. Other events this weekend include wine, chess and theatre! For all our top picks this weekend, click here! > Read more.